MEOLNational police to be reorganised after firing of over 1,000 policemen for law breaking and 2,000 others for dereliction of duty.
BAGHDAD - Iraq's National Police is being completely reorganized and over 3,000 officers have been dismissed, the Iraqi interior ministry spokesman said Tuesday.
Brigadier General Abdel Karim Khalaf told reporters at a press conference in the heavily fortified Green Zone that 1,228 had been sacked for breaking the law while nearly 2,000 more were dismissed for dereliction of duty.
"This restructuring was applied this week to the leadership of the National Police," Khalaf said. "The headquarters of the two divisions were dissolved and all brigades were brought directly under the commander of the National Police."
The National Police, which was formed out of the police commandos and the public order brigades, was hastily thrown together in 2004 to address security shortages and became notoriously infiltrated by militias.
"A total of 1,228 have been dismissed on orders of the interior minister for criminal acts and forgery and human rights violations and other issues," Khalaf said.
"The rest have failed to carry out their duties in some terror operations in provinces like Qaddisiyah and Diyala," he said, estimating that more than 3,000 have been dismissed in total.
The official said this process, which has only been implemented now, has been underway since he took office in June.
The interior minister, Jawad al-Bolani, was chosen by the national unity government specifically for his lack of ties to the political parties.
Ultimately, however, it appeared this lack of a political base hampered his abilities to effect reforms.
now what good can come of having 3000 trained ex police on the streets.
